dallas cowboys
dallas cowboys
The last time the Dallas Cowboys beat the Arizona Cardinals, Dak Prescott was in his second NFL season. Nine years later, the wait continues— and Dallas has plenty of reasons to blame itself.
The Cowboys led 24–10 early in the fourth quarter. They were at home, facing an offense that had changed quarterbacks and lost players to injuries. The opportunity to end the drought was right there. Instead, Dallas suffered a 33–30 overtime loss and fell to 3–5.
According to ESPN Insights, Dallas entered Sunday 69–0 at home since 2000 when leading by at least 14 points in the fourth quarter. Arizona was 1–147–1 when trailing by that margin in the fourth over the same period.
Dallas still found a way to lose.
Nov 1, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer walks the field during warms ups prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Dallas Built a Lead It Could Not Protect
There were opportunities to take control long before the final collapse.
Caleb Downs helped stop Arizona near the goal line, and Shemar James intercepted a deflected pass. Dallas turned the short field into its opening touchdown when James Mitchell recovered Javonte Williams’ fumble in the end zone.
Prescott later found Ryan Flournoy for a nine-yard touchdown, putting the Cowboys ahead 14–0. DeMarvion Overshown then forced another fumble before halftime, giving the offense another possession in Arizona territory.
Dallas went into the break leading 14–3. A field goal extended the advantage to 17–3, and Prescott’s rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter restored a two-touchdown cushion at 24–10.
The Cowboys had not played a clean offensive game. They had, however, done enough to put themselves in a position that should have been manageable.
Then the defense came apart.
Four Straight Touchdowns Erased the Early Highlights
Arizona replaced Jacoby Brissett with Gardner Minshew in the second half. What followed was an embarrassing defensive collapse.
The Cardinals scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to finish regulation. Tyler Allgeier broke loose for a 63-yard rushing touchdown, then added a receiving score. Minshew followed with touchdown passes to Trey McBride and Michael Wilson.
This was an offense dealing with injuries, including the departures of running backs Jeremiyah Love and Bam Knight. Minshew finished with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Dallas made Arizona’s backup quarterback look far too comfortable when the game was slipping away.
The earlier takeaways deserve mention. They do not make the defensive performance acceptable.
Missed tackles became long gains. Possessions that needed to end became touchdowns. Christian Parker’s unit could not find a response as Arizona repeatedly worked its way back into the game.
A defense cannot protect its reputation with first-half highlights while surrendering the lead in the fourth.
Even Arizona Gave Dallas Another Chance
The Cowboys still had opportunities to escape.
After McBride’s touchdown cut the lead to 27–24, Dallas recovered Arizona’s onside kick and took possession at the Cardinals’ 20-yard line. The offense failed to finish the game and settled for a field goal.
Arizona then traveled 80 yards in eight plays, with Minshew finding Wilson for the tying touchdown with six seconds remaining.
Chad Ryland missed the extra point.
Instead of falling behind, Dallas received another chance in overtime. The Cowboys elected to defend first, forced a punt, and handed Prescott an opportunity to win with any score.
Three plays. No first down. Another punt.
Ryland eventually made the 42-yard field goal that ended it. Dallas had survived the missed extra point and received the defensive stop it needed. The offense still could not deliver.
Schottenheimer Has More Than the Defense to Explain
Thirty points make the offensive performance look better than it felt.
Dallas finished with 261 total yards and converted six of 16 third downs. Its 39 rushing attempts produced only 93 yards. The Cowboys committed to running, but the production never justified confidence that they could simply grind out the finish.
Schottenheimer’s offense had favorable field position late in regulation and a chance to win in overtime. Neither opportunity produced the answer Dallas needed.
“We obviously have to learn to finish in all three phases,” Schottenheimer said afterward. He acknowledged the missed opportunities and accepted responsibility for his part in the defeat.
The admission is fair. Eight games into the season, the repeated need to make it is the problem.
The Last Word
Dallas cannot explain this loss by pointing at one unit. The defense was awful during Arizona’s comeback. The offense failed to close the game when it had the ball and another chance to do so.
The Cowboys had a two-touchdown lead, takeaways, a recovered onside kick, a missed opposing extra point, and an overtime stop. They still left their own stadium with a fifth defeat.
Schottenheimer can promise more work, and the players can insist they believe. Neither will change what happened Sunday. A team with this many opportunities should have found a way to finish. Instead, Dallas gave its fans another collapse to sit through—and another week of explanations to hear.
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